JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Rensselaer, IN.
Sept. 23,1898. A story of the late war of more than usual pathetic interest has just come to light in this county. About a year and a half ago Elwood Spriggs was one of the rising young school teachers of this county, with bright prospects. He is the son of one of the most prominent men in the northern part of this county and had a wife and baby, Domestic difficulties arose and abt. 18 months ago young Spriggs disappeared. The first that his father knew of his whereabouts was a telegram received from Kansas City this week to the effect that his dead body would reach home yesterday. On going to Meadryville, his father’s post office, the latter found a letter a week old, informing him that his son was seriously ill, and would likely not recover. It seems Spriggs had gone to Kansas City, MO. and there enlisted in a volunteer regiment and died of typhoid fever.
Rensselaer, Ind., Sept. 30.—The question as to whether rebate checks in payment of cash fares will have to be stamped tinder the revenue law will be thoroughly tested soon. On the Monon yesterday a prominent citizen of this city was threatened with expulsion from the south-bound Indianapolis train unless he paid 30 cents extra fare and accepted the unstamped check. The commissioner of internal revenue has recently decided that rebate checks must have attached to them a 2-cent revenue stamp and the Monon Railway has been defying this law ever since it has been enacted. The offending conductor, Forker by name, will be duly reported to the federal grand jury and the matter will be given a test.
Source: Indiana Journal Oct 5, 1898
The Rensselaer Robbers. Worked up by Chicago Detectives the Story of the Crime
Chicago, September 3 —Captain Turtle's detectives sucessfully worked up the case of the bank robbers in Renseelaer, Ind. and arrested three three men, Jas. Filkins, alias Martin, and Martin Davis of Chicago, and N. V. B. Warner, Saloon Keeper at Renssalaer. The burglars had been some weeks tunneling under the bank vault, and were about ready to take money when discovered. The vault contained about $200,000. besides valuable securities. Bill Wray put up the Job, but was drowned before its completion.
Date: 1876-09-04; Paper: Indianapolis Sentinel
Courthouse Fight at Rensselaer
RENSSELAER, Ind., March 9
Considerable excitement was created here today by a scandal regarding the new courthouse. The project has developed a lively competition among the stone men and today the Commissioners, accompanied by several lobbyists, departed on a secret mission for Chicago, apparently for the purpose of closing up the stone contract without regard to other bidders. A telegram was sent them on the way, signed by several heavy taxpayers, reading as follows:
"We as taxpayers protest against any lobbying on stone contract and paying of middle men. We desire you to act as in your own private busineess." The incident has created such a how! that injunction proceedings will likely be started.
Date: 1896-03-11; Paper: Indiana State Journal
No Use for Catholics. Old Soldier Insulted Zouaves at Rensselaer Graves
[RENSSELAER Ind., June 3,—The local post. G. A. R. held a stormy meeting last night on account of a very unfortunate incident in connection with Decoration-day celebration in this city. Within one-half a mile of this city is St, Joseph's College, a Catholic institution, with 150 young men students. The students maintain an excellent military company and brass band, and it has always been customary for them to participate in Decoration-day exercises. All the details in connection with the day were left with a committee appointed by the local G. A. R. post and this committee, in accordance with former precedent. Invited the college band and the college zouaves to parade and take part in the exercises at the cemetery. Owing to the fact that the local post has no satisfactory firearms, the firing squad was, also selected from the zouaves to fire the salute at the cemetery. The oration was delivered by Captain Guthrie, of the One hundred and sixty first Indiana, and all events nassed off pleasantly until the termination of the oration, when Capt. J. A. Burnham, commander of the post, directed the firing squad from the zouavea to take position at the head of the soldiers' graves.
As soon as this order was given Lieut, William H. Rhodes, of Company G, Ninth Indiana, a veteran of the late war, threw himself in front of the firing squad and, wildly gesticulating., announced In a loud voice that no Catholic should tire over his brother's grave, Rhodes had a brother killed in the war and buried with the soldiers.
The commander of the post immediately ordered the policeman to arrest Rhodes. This the officer was proceeding to do when several members of the post sprang forward to the assistance of Rhodes, and there bid fair to be a serious riot. As soon as order was restored the captain of the zouaves announced that they had come over on the invitation of the post and as it was likely to cause trouble by their participating in the services, they would with-draw from any further connection with affairs of this kind in the city. The matter is one that is regretted particularly by the citizens of the town, and last night it took shape in form of a resolution of apology adopted by the local post of the G. A. R. to the zouave.
Date: 1899-06-07; Paper: Indiana State Journal
Thompson Nominated for Judge
RENSSELAER Ind., Aug. 31,—At Goodland, Newton county, today, Hon. S. P. Thompson, of RensseIaer, was nominated by the Republicans for judge of the Thirtieth judicial circuit, to succeed Judge Wiley, who is a candidate on the Republican State ticket for Appellate Judge,
Date: 1896-09-02; Paper: Indiana State Journal
The County Wants a Divorce
RENSSELAER, Ind,, Dec. 12.—One of the first bills to be introduced in the coming Legislature will be one to detach Benton county from the Thirtieth judicial circuit, provided over by Judge Thompson, and attach it to the circuit composed
of Warren and Fountain counties, presided over by Judge Rabb. This change is one of the out-comes of the celebrated contempt case Of Judge Thompson against the Benton county bar. This will leave but two small counties, namely, Newton and Jasper, in Judge Thompson's circuit, which will take twenty-four weeks in the year of his time.
Date: 1898-12-14; Paper: Indiana State Journal
Sept. 23,1898. A story of the late war of more than usual pathetic interest has just come to light in this county. About a year and a half ago Elwood Spriggs was one of the rising young school teachers of this county, with bright prospects. He is the son of one of the most prominent men in the northern part of this county and had a wife and baby, Domestic difficulties arose and abt. 18 months ago young Spriggs disappeared. The first that his father knew of his whereabouts was a telegram received from Kansas City this week to the effect that his dead body would reach home yesterday. On going to Meadryville, his father’s post office, the latter found a letter a week old, informing him that his son was seriously ill, and would likely not recover. It seems Spriggs had gone to Kansas City, MO. and there enlisted in a volunteer regiment and died of typhoid fever.
Rensselaer, Ind., Sept. 30.—The question as to whether rebate checks in payment of cash fares will have to be stamped tinder the revenue law will be thoroughly tested soon. On the Monon yesterday a prominent citizen of this city was threatened with expulsion from the south-bound Indianapolis train unless he paid 30 cents extra fare and accepted the unstamped check. The commissioner of internal revenue has recently decided that rebate checks must have attached to them a 2-cent revenue stamp and the Monon Railway has been defying this law ever since it has been enacted. The offending conductor, Forker by name, will be duly reported to the federal grand jury and the matter will be given a test.
Source: Indiana Journal Oct 5, 1898
The Rensselaer Robbers. Worked up by Chicago Detectives the Story of the Crime
Chicago, September 3 —Captain Turtle's detectives sucessfully worked up the case of the bank robbers in Renseelaer, Ind. and arrested three three men, Jas. Filkins, alias Martin, and Martin Davis of Chicago, and N. V. B. Warner, Saloon Keeper at Renssalaer. The burglars had been some weeks tunneling under the bank vault, and were about ready to take money when discovered. The vault contained about $200,000. besides valuable securities. Bill Wray put up the Job, but was drowned before its completion.
Date: 1876-09-04; Paper: Indianapolis Sentinel
Courthouse Fight at Rensselaer
RENSSELAER, Ind., March 9
Considerable excitement was created here today by a scandal regarding the new courthouse. The project has developed a lively competition among the stone men and today the Commissioners, accompanied by several lobbyists, departed on a secret mission for Chicago, apparently for the purpose of closing up the stone contract without regard to other bidders. A telegram was sent them on the way, signed by several heavy taxpayers, reading as follows:
"We as taxpayers protest against any lobbying on stone contract and paying of middle men. We desire you to act as in your own private busineess." The incident has created such a how! that injunction proceedings will likely be started.
Date: 1896-03-11; Paper: Indiana State Journal
No Use for Catholics. Old Soldier Insulted Zouaves at Rensselaer Graves
[RENSSELAER Ind., June 3,—The local post. G. A. R. held a stormy meeting last night on account of a very unfortunate incident in connection with Decoration-day celebration in this city. Within one-half a mile of this city is St, Joseph's College, a Catholic institution, with 150 young men students. The students maintain an excellent military company and brass band, and it has always been customary for them to participate in Decoration-day exercises. All the details in connection with the day were left with a committee appointed by the local G. A. R. post and this committee, in accordance with former precedent. Invited the college band and the college zouaves to parade and take part in the exercises at the cemetery. Owing to the fact that the local post has no satisfactory firearms, the firing squad was, also selected from the zouaves to fire the salute at the cemetery. The oration was delivered by Captain Guthrie, of the One hundred and sixty first Indiana, and all events nassed off pleasantly until the termination of the oration, when Capt. J. A. Burnham, commander of the post, directed the firing squad from the zouavea to take position at the head of the soldiers' graves.
As soon as this order was given Lieut, William H. Rhodes, of Company G, Ninth Indiana, a veteran of the late war, threw himself in front of the firing squad and, wildly gesticulating., announced In a loud voice that no Catholic should tire over his brother's grave, Rhodes had a brother killed in the war and buried with the soldiers.
The commander of the post immediately ordered the policeman to arrest Rhodes. This the officer was proceeding to do when several members of the post sprang forward to the assistance of Rhodes, and there bid fair to be a serious riot. As soon as order was restored the captain of the zouaves announced that they had come over on the invitation of the post and as it was likely to cause trouble by their participating in the services, they would with-draw from any further connection with affairs of this kind in the city. The matter is one that is regretted particularly by the citizens of the town, and last night it took shape in form of a resolution of apology adopted by the local post of the G. A. R. to the zouave.
Date: 1899-06-07; Paper: Indiana State Journal
Thompson Nominated for Judge
RENSSELAER Ind., Aug. 31,—At Goodland, Newton county, today, Hon. S. P. Thompson, of RensseIaer, was nominated by the Republicans for judge of the Thirtieth judicial circuit, to succeed Judge Wiley, who is a candidate on the Republican State ticket for Appellate Judge,
Date: 1896-09-02; Paper: Indiana State Journal
The County Wants a Divorce
RENSSELAER, Ind,, Dec. 12.—One of the first bills to be introduced in the coming Legislature will be one to detach Benton county from the Thirtieth judicial circuit, provided over by Judge Thompson, and attach it to the circuit composed
of Warren and Fountain counties, presided over by Judge Rabb. This change is one of the out-comes of the celebrated contempt case Of Judge Thompson against the Benton county bar. This will leave but two small counties, namely, Newton and Jasper, in Judge Thompson's circuit, which will take twenty-four weeks in the year of his time.
Date: 1898-12-14; Paper: Indiana State Journal